Today is Wednesday, February 11th; we are now 28 weeks along in the pregnancy!  That is so huge!  If you remember me saying, each doctor we have talked to has encouraged us by saying if we make it to 28 weeks, the baby has 100% chance of surviving if born prematurely.  We are amazed and so thankful to God for helping us make it to this point.  This is honestly the first time in the pregnancy that I have been able to confidently think about actually having a baby in our home this spring.  Maybe it sounds a little weird to most people, but now that I am 7 months along in the pregnancy, I am finally letting myself think about spending time loving and caring for our baby here on earth.  I always had hope, confidence and belief that God could give us a healthy pregnancy, but I also know that God sometimes has other plans.  God may still have other plans for our baby that we would rather not consider, but having been through that once before, I know God's plans are best and that He can get us through any tragedy.  But, that kind of tragedy is far less likely to occur now that I am 28 weeks along, so PRAISE THE LORD with us!  I did not think that one month after being admitted to the hospital, that I would still be pregnant!  Only God could make that happen!  Let this be our cry: Psalm 30:12, "That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!"  A while ago I told you that our theme for this pregnancy is "Praise the Lord."  Today we have so much for which to praise Him!

To give you a little more of an update, we are still on bed rest, but we are now at home in Marshalltown.  The doctors I am consulting with thought it safe to send me home to wait out the rest of my pregnancy.  I do have three doctor appointments each week though.  One in Marshalltown on Tuesdays, one in Des Moines on Thursdays, and one in Ames on Fridays.  I have been home almost a week now.  I am doing well; I am glad to be home.  There were a few conveniences of the hospital that I miss: a bathroom close to the bed, the compression boots to help with my circulation, the adjustable bed and having doctors and nurses around to discuss concerns.   However, home has its benefits too:  more visual variety, birds outside my window, my own food and keeping to my own schedule.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day here in Iowa, it was a perfect day for me to get out for a doctor appointment!  I also opened my bedside window and listened to the birds and felt the breeze all day. 

Please continue to pray for the pregnancy and the baby.  I guess there is no real goal to specifically pray for next.  Obviously, every day the baby is inside me will benefit him in the long run, so just pray that the baby will get all the time he needs.  God works all things in His time.  Our doctor says if I make it to 35 weeks, she would consider that overdue for me.  Not that she would try to induce labor at that point, but that people with my condition are blessed if they make it that long.  That's only 7 more weeks!  We know that God can get me there! 

Thank you again for your prayers.  We are so blessed to see how God has used each of your prayers.  Some day it will be a blessing to share with our son about the doctors and nurses we were able to share Jesus with because we had to see SO MANY (all over the country) for this pregnancy.  We will tell him about all the people who love him and prayed for him before he was even born!